Chapter 3 - THE NAME THEY BURIED
The name was Daniel Mercer.
Claire had heard it once.
Only once.
Ethan had been drunk.
They had been arguing about his father.
Ethan had said something about “the family mistake.”
Claire had assumed he meant a failed business.
Now she understood.
Daniel was Ethan's older brother.
He had disappeared from the family years before.
Nobody talked about him.
Diane claimed he had moved away.
Richard said Daniel had abandoned the family.
Ethan simply refused to discuss him.
Claire looked at Martin.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“You must know something.”
“I know he was involved in the original property structure.”
“What property structure?”
“The one that eventually became Brooks Residential.”
Claire felt a chill.
“You're saying Daniel helped create the company?”
“Yes.”
“Then why was his name removed?”
Martin leaned forward.
“Because he wanted out.”
“Out of what?”
“The Mercer family's debts.”
Claire studied him.
“What happened?”
Martin looked toward the window.
“Daniel discovered what Richard was doing.”
“And?”
“He confronted him.”
“Then what?”
“He disappeared.”
Claire's voice dropped.
“Did Richard hurt him?”
Martin immediately shook his head.
“I don't know.”
That answer stayed with Claire.
Not because it reassured her.
Because it didn't.
She left Martin's office with copies of every document he had.
Before she reached her car, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
No one spoke.
Then a man's voice said:
“You're asking the wrong questions.”
Claire stopped.
“Who is this?”
“You should stop.”
“Who are you?”
“You think Ethan is the problem.”
Claire's grip tightened.
“He isn't?”
“No.”
“Then who is?”
The call ended.
Claire stood beside her car.
She looked around.
Nothing.
No one.
Then she noticed a black sedan parked across the street.
Its engine was running.
The vehicle pulled away.
Claire immediately called Laura.
By evening, they had arranged additional security.
Laura also insisted Claire stop meeting unknown contacts alone.
Claire agreed.
But she refused to stop investigating.
That night, she returned to the mansion.
Ethan was in the living room.
He looked exhausted.
“You've been working late.”
Claire put down her handbag.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“At the office.”
He studied her.
“You've been distant.”
Claire smiled.
“You noticed?”
“I always notice.”
“No.”
Claire walked past him.
“You notice when my money changes.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
He followed her.
“Claire.”
She turned.
“I'm tired.”
“You've been acting strange for weeks.”
“Maybe I'm finally paying attention.”
Ethan stared at her.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
He walked away to answer it.
Claire watched.
She couldn't hear the caller.
But she saw Ethan's face.
Fear.
Real fear.
When he returned, he looked at her.
“Everything okay?”
He forced a smile.
“Yes.”
Claire nodded.
“Good.”
She went upstairs.
Behind the bedroom door, she called Laura.
“Ethan got a call.”
“From whom?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened?”
“He looked scared.”
Laura paused.
“Then we may be closer than we thought.”
Claire opened her laptop.
She searched the financial records again.
One account had been hidden from the earlier reports.
It was associated with a holding company.
The company name was almost meaningless.
But the registered director was not.
Daniel Mercer.
Claire stared at the screen.
Daniel was alive.
Or at least, someone was still using his name.
She immediately called Laura.
“Found him.”
“Where?”
Claire read the address.
Laura went silent.
“That's not an address.”
“What do you mean?”
“That's a private banking office.”
Claire stared at the screen.
“So?”
“So Daniel Mercer may not have disappeared.”
May you like
Laura's voice became quieter.
“He may have been hiding in plain sight.”
